"chief support," 1787, figurative use of a nautical noun meaning "stay which extends from the main-top to the foot of the foremast" (late 15c.), from main (adj.) + stay (n.).
实用例句
1. Cocoa is the country's economic mainstay.
可可是这个国家的经济支柱。
来自《权威词典》
2. Agriculture is still the mainstay of the country's economy.
农业仍然是这个国家经济的主要支柱.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. After the father's death the son became the mainstay of the family.
父亲死后,儿子就成了这个家庭的主心骨.
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
4. They were the mainstay in the War of Resistance Against Japan.
他们是抗日战争的中流砥柱.
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
5. This principle of collective bargaining has been a mainstay in labor relations in this country.